A gaming TV is judged first on how it plays — low input lag, VRR, high refresh — then on picture, connectivity, and whether the price makes sense. Our pick is the LG C5 OLED, with an SR Score of 92, for sub-6ms input lag at 120Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports, Dolby Vision Gaming, and a price that has dropped to genuine value. The Samsung S95F (91) is the no-compromise high-end runner-up. For the best price-per-inch, the Hisense U8 Mini-LED is the value pick.
The ranking
| Rank | Product | Best for | Typical price (65”) | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LG C5 OLED | Best overall gaming value | ~$1,700 | 92 |
| 2 | Samsung S95F OLED | No-compromise high end | ~$2,500 | 91 |
| 3 | LG G5 OLED | Brightest LG OLED | ~$2,800 | 90 |
| 4 | Samsung QN90F Mini-LED | Bright-room gaming | ~$1,800 | 89 |
| 5 | Sony Bravia 8 II OLED | Best for cinematic mixed use | ~$2,700 | 89 |
| 6 | Hisense U8 Mini-LED | Best value | ~$1,100 | 88 |
| 7 | TCL QM8 Mini-LED | Big-screen budget | ~$1,300 | 87 |
Methodology
The Tech Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Gaming performance (30) — input lag, VRR, refresh rate, ALLM.
- Value for money (25) — performance against the current street price.
- Picture quality (20) — contrast, brightness, color accuracy.
- Connectivity & features (15) — HDMI 2.1 count, gaming dashboard, apps.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — lab testing and large-sample ratings.
Gaming performance and value lead because this is a gaming list and prices move fast. Re-weight Picture to 30 and the brighter G5 and S95F edge ahead of the C5.
LG C5 OLED
The overall value winner, around $1,700 for 65 inches. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, roughly 5.9ms input lag at 120Hz, Dolby Vision Gaming, G-Sync and FreeSync, and a 144Hz panel — all on LG’s mature gaming dashboard. With the C6 now shipping, the C5 has dropped to a price that makes it the consensus value pick.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 28/30 |
| Value for money | 24/25 |
| Picture quality | 18/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: dimmer than the brightest OLEDs and Mini-LEDs in a sunlit room.
Samsung S95F OLED
The high-end pick, around $2,500 for 65 inches. A QD-OLED with class-leading brightness, ~5ms input lag with VRR, 4K up to 165Hz, G-Sync compatibility, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. The best all-round gaming OLED if budget is no object.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 29/30 |
| Value for money | 20/25 |
| Picture quality | 19/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: roughly $800 more than the C5 for gains most players won’t notice.
LG G5 OLED
The brightest LG OLED, around $2,800 for 65 inches. LG’s flagship four-stack OLED panel pushes notably higher brightness than the C5, with the same excellent gaming suite, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and 165Hz support. The pick for a bright room that still wants OLED blacks.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 28/30 |
| Value for money | 18/25 |
| Picture quality | 20/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the most expensive TV here, and designed for wall-mounting.
Samsung QN90F Mini-LED
The bright-room gaming pick, around $1,800 for 65 inches. A high-brightness Mini-LED with low input lag, 144Hz-plus support, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and excellent glare handling. The best non-OLED for a sunny living room.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 27/30 |
| Value for money | 21/25 |
| Picture quality | 18/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: Mini-LED blooming around bright objects on dark scenes.
Sony Bravia 8 II OLED
The cinematic mixed-use pick, around $2,700 for 65 inches. A QD-OLED with Sony’s best-in-class processing and accurate color, plus 4K 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM across two HDMI 2.1 ports. The choice if you watch as much as you game.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 25/30 |
| Value for money | 18/25 |
| Picture quality | 20/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 12/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one shared with eARC.
Hisense U8 Mini-LED
The value champion, around $1,100 for 65 inches. A very bright Mini-LED with 144Hz support, VRR, ALLM, and low input lag at a price well below the OLEDs. The most gaming TV per dollar.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 26/30 |
| Value for money | 24/25 |
| Picture quality | 17/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: processing and viewing angles trail the premium sets.
TCL QM8 Mini-LED
The big-screen budget pick, around $1,300 for 65 inches (and a bargain at 75-plus). A bright Mini-LED with high contrast, 144Hz gaming support, VRR, and low input lag. The best way to get a huge gaming screen cheaply.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Gaming performance | 25/30 |
| Value for money | 23/25 |
| Picture quality | 17/20 |
| Connectivity & features | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: off-angle picture and smart-platform polish lag the leaders.
How to choose a gaming TV
Start from your room and budget. For the best overall blend of gaming performance, OLED picture, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and a now-discounted price, the LG C5 is the benchmark and earns its #1. If you want the absolute best and brightest OLED and don’t mind paying, the Samsung S95F or LG G5 are the upgrades.
Game in a bright room or on a tighter budget and Mini-LED is the smarter buy: the Samsung QN90F for premium brightness, or the Hisense U8 and TCL QM8 for far more screen per dollar. PC gamers chasing 165Hz should confirm their GPU can drive it; console players are fully served by any 120Hz set here. Re-weight the rubric toward Picture and the brightest OLEDs climb; weight Gaming performance and Value as we do and the C5 stays on top.
Verification
- LG C5 OLED — input lag, ports, and pricing verified on lg.com and RTINGS.
- Samsung S95F OLED — refresh, lag, and pricing verified on samsung.com and RTINGS.
- LG G5 OLED — panel and pricing verified on lg.com and Tom’s Guide.
- Samsung QN90F Mini-LED — gaming features and pricing verified on samsung.com.
- Sony Bravia 8 II OLED — ports and pricing verified on sony.com.
- Hisense U8 Mini-LED — gaming features and pricing verified on hisense-usa.com and RTINGS.
- TCL QM8 Mini-LED — gaming features and pricing verified on tcl.com.
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- Best 2-in-1 Laptops 2026: 7 Scored
Frequently asked questions
- How many HDMI 2.1 ports do I need for gaming?
- Two is the practical minimum if you run a console plus a PC or a second console, since one port is usually shared with eARC for a soundbar. The LG C5 and S95F both offer four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is why they top connectivity — you can plug in everything at full 4K 120Hz-plus.
- Do consoles benefit from 165Hz panels?
- No. PS5 and Xbox Series X cap at 4K 120Hz, so a 120Hz TV is plenty for console gaming. The new 165Hz OLEDs only help PC gamers with a GPU that can push those frame rates. Buy 165Hz only if you game on a high-end PC.
- OLED or Mini-LED for gaming?
- OLED gives perfect blacks, near-instant pixel response, and the lowest input lag — ideal for dark rooms and competitive play. Mini-LED (Samsung QN90, Hisense U8) gets far brighter for sunny rooms and costs less per inch. Both can be excellent; choose by room brightness and budget.
- What is VRR and do I need it?
- Variable Refresh Rate syncs the TV's refresh to the game's frame rate to eliminate screen tearing and stutter. Every TV on this list supports it (G-Sync and/or FreeSync). It is a genuine gaming upgrade and worth prioritizing.